Conveying chain



Jan. 13, 193 1; J. 5. DA COSTA 78 CONVEYING CHAIN Filed Nov. 27'; 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g 2 4 [m [I I] I Y INVENTOR. JAMES 5.1M COSTA,

A TTORNEYS Jan. 13; 1931. v J. 5. DA COSTA [1,

CONVEYING CHAIN 'Filed Nov. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES 5. DA CosTA m mlw v Fig. his a perspective view of the clip,

' hereinafter described, v

Fig. is a perspective view of the bolt, hereinafter described, which constitutes the locking means by which thefparts of the center link are held against movement with respectto each other.

Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating a '"d(11 of locking means for the halvesof the ccn er link, p

Fig. 7 is a face view of one of the halves zvf-L he link inFig.-6. i

Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the lock of Fig. 6. I V

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a center link showing a furthermodification ofthe l0ck-' ing means,

i l Fig.710 is aface view of one halfpf the fication ofthe lockingdevicef modification of the locking device,

structure illustrated in 9. y a

Fig.11 is a detail view of a clip, herein after described. f l Y Fig. 12 is a side view of a further modi- Fig.f13 is aface view of one half of the center'link, illustrating the locking device of Fig. 12, I

' Fig. 14: is aside elevationof a further onehalf of the F ig." 15 is a face "view or center link of Fig. 14.] 1 I s Fig. 16 is adetail view illustrating the center link rocked to an angle withrespect to the side "link.

' Like numerals designate corresponding .parts in all of the figures of the dra-wing.

By referring to the drawing, and particularly Fig. 1, it will be seen that the chain of the present invention is composed of side is in condition for use, the side links are held apart by thepresence ofthe center'links 6,

at which-timethe lugs '9 which correspond i to the lugs 9 of the side links face toward and contact with each other. When the center links are in this position their combined width is such as to hold the side links apart.

Each link is further provided,intermediate its ends, with a pair of spaced lugs10.-

These lugs perform no' function when the links are used as side links, but when the links are used' as center links they complementally form an angular recess 11, which receives the angular heads 12 of a bolt'13.

After the bolt has been placed in position,

as illustrated in Fig; l, a spring clip 14 is snapped about the'bolt and lies between the opposite sides of the respective center links. This clip retains the bolt in position, and the angular heads of the bolt, in turn, prevent endwise movement of the two halves of Yofthe chain links. modified the center link, with respect to'each other. Thus, as long as the locking device constituted by the bolt remains in place, the two halves of the center link will beheld against longitudinal movement withrespect to each other, and'there' can be no accidental release 7 In order to prevent turning of the clip 14 upon the bolt 13, said bolt is provided with angular projections 12, upon its heads,

which extend between the terminal ends of the accidental release of said bolt;

' lVhen it is desired'to part the chain,- the clip 14; removed from bolt 13,.and bolt 13 'is' moved endwlse and out of engagement with the halves of the center link. Then these halves are moved endwise with respect to each. other tothe position illustrated in Fig. 2. this time lugs 9 and'lugs 1O enter corresponding recesses 93 and 10 in theconfronting faces of the companion half ofthe center link. The result of this is to so decrease the effective. thickness of the collapsed center link that the ends of the side links may 'be placed toward. each other enough to disengage the lugs 9' from the heads 8 of the coiinectin g pins7, after which said pins may be moved longitudinally towardthe center of the side links enough to carry their heads over the inner lugs 9. By thengiving the heads ofthe pins 7 a quarter turn, they are brought to such positionas to pass through the slots ofthe side links and this, of course, parts the chain.

Each link is beveled at its ends, as indicated at 1 5, for the purpose of permitting the various links to rock to positions of slight angularity with respect to each other. This permits the conveyor chain, as a whole, to travel in an arcuate'path', without binding between the, parts and, at thesame time, without undesirable looseness of lit between the center links and the side links.

Thus, it will be seen that Ihave combined, in a unitarystruct-ure, elements having the followin important advantages First. The chain may be readily parted when desired but, at the same ti'me, cannot be accidentally parted.

' Second. The elements constituting the various links are interchangeable so that all. of the link units employed maybe made with the same die, and p Third. The center links, while such width or thickness as to fill the space between the side links and hold said side links firmly life) the shoulder 1280i the 3g 'ceive a block of; decided angnlarityf with respect to the s. 6,- 7 5' and .8, theaters ;lialves.,-16-16"- of the f n er linksare provided with:theahutments i -shaped key;-l8 iscomplementally e I 21th; these eoutments andhe'ld-in v 'v'n -1 l- "1 w" ce by a; it is-cleaitnattins w ll 6 i'ectivelyprevent endn'isel movement: of the to permit the passageiol= apinQl; f his pin lms-aredu'ced end 2%, adaptedito enter recess;

most oit saicl T abut 25, formed in the love ments. The pinis provided with an annular groove 26 in its-length,- and after the pin has been put in position aclip 2? isengagedqin said annular cove lvlovement of'the pin outward-ly.-- is resists, 1 Joy clips 27, and movement ofthe p inJin-Wardly, is preventedhy pin is in position Witt it. opposite ends coin plementally. enga lrthe abutments oi? the two halves of the center link, said halves cannot be exerted lone. V ally With respect toeaclrotl er 2' V t in the modified rem, of locking; device, illustrated in Fig I center link indie-at provided I \v-it (l atfiQ-QQE, are each -30?30*". These ahutn'ientsare provi i the-confronting recesses 3l32-, Wh-i con iplemental-ly re- 33, ,\vhi:ch is angular in cross section. The-pin3st-raversest is bloc-k, and the halves: of {the centerlink and holds the angular block in position; The block-takes the thrust and vresist-s. endivise movement of theitwo halves of tl ielik n'ith respect'to each other.v shear ofithepin i In the form offtheinvention illustrated in Figs. 1-4- and 15, the structure is much like that illustratedinF-igs, l2 and 13, except that in this case the angular block33 is omitted, and a bolt 35 is passed through the two halves of thecenter link,- to hold these. halves against endWise movement With respectto each other.

It Will'be clear thatmany-Ways Will sugi'i-hemselvesto thoseskilled in the art, for locking the halves of the "center link against endW-ise movement.

Consequently; it :isto be understood that the. invention is nohlimited to any particular way of iaccomplishing this result-, nor is it limited in any respect 7 to the particular emhodiment'whi 'iiIhave-chosen for purposes of illustration. Upon thercontrany, it is to be wider-stood that-,5therinvention includes Within eta p urvent Whatever fiche-n ges; fairly a shut-hie 2 22 in the As long vas thistli eti'w halves oii-the;

Thus, there-is. no tendency to i comefvvithin either; the termsori the spirit of the appended claims." I

Having described my invention, What I claim is: I r l r 1'. A chainconstruction comprising vside links, center links, and transverse connecting p1ns, :1nterengag1ng parts upon the side: hnks and the pins operative wmnthe side links are thrust outwardly, the center links being made in. two halves 1 of a combined I thickness to holdthe slde links-in pin engaging posh t1on whenstheparts are in operative position,

the two halves oflthc center links beingso ishapedthat; When they are moved endvvise with respectto each other, they may nest into each other in such manner as to reduce their effective thickness and permit inward movement'of the side links-to free thepins,

said side links and the halves of the center links being of such uniform design to he Q,

interchangeable; I V V 2. A chain construction comprising side links, center links, and transverse-connecting pins, interengaging parts upon the side links andth'e pins, operative When the, side links are thrustoutwardly, the center links be i i n n I made lIl'iEWO' halves'ot a combined thickness to hold the side links inpin-engaging posi- \vithrespectto each othen they may nest into each other in such manner as to-reduce-their' effective thickness; and permit inward move V mento'f the side'link's to free the pine, and an 5 elementin' addition to the transverse connecting .pins Which complementally eng; and locksthe two: halves oi the center links againstv "endwise. movement ith respect to eachother; l

3.- A chain construction, comprising side links, center links, and transverse connectiig pins, interengaging part-s upon the side links and the pins operative when the side links are thrust outwardly,the center links being made in two halves oi a combined thickness to hold the side linksin pin engaging position,'when'the parts are in operative position, the two halves of the center links being so shaped that when they are moved endwise with respect to eachyother, they may nest into e'aclrotherin such manner as to reduce their effective thickness, and'permit inward; movement of-the side links. to free the pins,said side linksand the halves of the center links being of such uniform design as to be interchangeable, and means for locking the halves of the center links against endwise movement Witl respect to ca 1 other.

' 4. A chain construe ion con'ipri'sing side links, centerlinks and transverse connecting pins, interengagi-ng parts upon the, side links and the pins, operative when the sideiinks are thrust OHtW11-Cl ly,tl16 centerlinks being made in 1 two halves of a comhinedkthickness to hold theside links in pin-engagingposi tlon when the parts arem operativeposition,

the two halves of the'center. 'iinks beingjso shaped that when they are moved endwlse,

with respect to each other, they inaynest into each other in such manner asto reducetheir effective thickness and permit inward move of said halves, with respect to each other.

nent of the side linksto tree the pins, said side links and the halves of the'center links being of such uniform design as to be interchangeable, and a locking element complementally engaging the two halves of the cen-.

ter link and. preventing endwise:movement A chain construction comprising side links, center links and transverse connecting pins, intcrengaglng parts uponthe side links and the pins operative when the side linksare I thrust outwardly, the center links being made in two halves of a combined thickness to hold the side links in pin-engaging position'when the parts are in operative position, the two halves otthe center links being so shaped that; when they are moved endwise, with re spect to each other, they may nest into'each other in such manner as to reduce their etfective thickness and permit inward move-' ment of the side links to free the pins, said side links and the halves of the center links being of'such uniformdesign as to be interchangeable, a locking element complementally engaging the two halves of the center link; and preventing endwise movement of; said halves,wit-h respect to each other, and means for holding said locking element against movement with respect to said halves.

6. iA chain construction comprising side links, center links and transverse connecting pins, interengaging parts upon the side links and the pins'o'perative when the side links are thrust outwardly, the center links being made in two halves of a combined thickness to hold the side links in pin-engaging position when the parts are in operative posit ion, thetwo halves of the center links being so shaped that when they are moved endwise, with respect to each other, they may nest'into each'other in such manner as to reduce their effective thickness and permit inward movement of the side links to free the pins, said side links and the halves of the center links being of such uniform design as to be interchangeable, a locking element complemental- 1y engaging the two halves of the center link and preventing endwise movement of sa d halves, with respect to each other, and a cl p for engaging said locking element and preventing movement of the same out of engagement with said halves.

7. A chain construction comprising side links, center links, and transverse connecting pins, interengaging parts uponthe side l nks and'the pins operative when the side links are thrust outwardly,the center links being made in two halves of a combined thickness to hold the side linksinpin-engaging position when the parts are in operative position,- the two halves of the center links being so shaped that wheirtheyare moved endwise withrespect to each other,they may nest into each other insucli manner as to'reduce their 'efiectiv'e thickness andpermit inward move ment of the side links to free the pins, said side links and the halves of the centerlinks being of such uniform design as to be interchangeable, each of said links being beveled off at its ends upon their outer sides.

8. A chain construction comprising side links, center links, and transverse connecting pins, interengaging parts upon the side links and the pins operative] when the side links are thrust outwardly, the center links being made in two halves of a combined thickness to hold the side links inpin-engaging posi-' tion when-the parts are in operative'position, the two halves'of thecenter links being so shaped that when they are moved endwise Wltll'IBSPQClJ to each other, theymay nest into each other in such manner as to reduce their efi'ective thickness and permitinward move: ment of the side links to free the pins, said lmks-beingbeveled off'at their ends upon their outer sides, as and for the purposes set forth. j

9. A chain link element comprising an elongated slotted ba rhaving upon one side face three pairs of lugs, the lugs of one pair lying in spaced relation to each other at approximately the-een'tervof the plate, and the remaining pairs of lugs being disposed at the opposite endsl of the plate, the said lugs being sopositioned that when said elementsareused as side links the end lugs serve to engage the transverse pins of the chain, while when the pairs of said elements are used to constitute a center link of the chain said end lugs serve as confronting and contacting abutments' to maintain a determined thickness of the center links.

1.0. A chain link element comprising an elongated slotted bar having upon one side face three pairs of lugs, the lugs of one pair lying in spaced relation to each other at approximately the center of the plate, and the remaining pairs of lugs'being so positioned that when said elementsare used as side links the end lugs serve to engage the transverse pins of thechain, whilewhen the pairs of said elements are used to constitute a center link of the chain said end'lugs serve as conice said elements are used to constitute a center llnk of the chain, said endlugs serve as 0011- fronting and contacting abutments to main tam a determ nedthickness of the center links, and the central lugs complementally create a pocket for the reception of a locking device by which the two halves of the center links are held against longitudinal movement with respect to each other, said lugs being so positioned that when the two halves of the center links are moved endwise'with respect,

V to each other, the end lugs, upon the one half of the center links nest within the space formed between the center lugs and the end lugs of the other half of the center link,and

the central lugs of the first named half of thecentcr link nest within the space between the center lugs and the other end lugs of the remaining half of the center link.

12. A chain construction comprising side links, center links, and transverse connecting pins, said center links being formed in two parts and being made collapsible as to efiective width when the said parts are moved with respect to each other, and an element in addition to said pins which complementally engages and locks said parts againstsuch movement to collapsing position,the thickness of the center links when, in non-collapsed position, being such as to hold the side links in looking engagement with the pins.

13. A chain construction comprisinga plurality of identical links adapted to serve either as side links oras elements of a two part center link, transverse pins for connecting the center and side links having heads with which the side links are held in locking engagement as long as the center links are in place and of normal width, the parts of the center links being shiftable with respect to each other to a position where they are collapsed as to effective width, and a locking device complementally engaging the parts of the center links to hold them against movement to collapsing position as long as said locking device is in. locking position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JAMES S. DA COSTA. 

